The Alpha King's Stolen Mate

Mireya Pov I still couldn’t believe I was here. Not just heading to the most important mating trial in the Five Wolf Territories, but escorting Lyra Thornveil, beta of the Crescent Howl Pack, my best friend… and the daughter of our alpha. We were all gathering at the Mating Grounds, a sacred valley reserved only for royal declarations. I adjusted the strap of my bag, sitting quietly beside Lyra. She looked effortlessly dressed in a tailored pale blue gown. Her long blonde hair was braided neatly down her back, with silver pins. “You’re quiet,” she said, glancing at me. “I’m just… trying to remember to breathe,” I admitted with a nervous laugh. Lyra smirked, lounging back like this was just another training match. “You act like you’re the one entering the trial.” “I’m not,” I said quickly. “But still… it’s the Alpha King’s mating trial. Every powerful wolf from all five packs will be there. This is history.” “History I plan on winning,” she said without hesitation. I turned slightly toward her. “From everything I’ve heard about the Alpha King and how powerful he is, how ruthless, he’d be a unwise not to see how worthy you are.” Lyra’s eyes sparkled, pleased. “And that is why I keep you around as my nurturer, Mireya, you always know exactly what to say." She smiled before adding. "I’m not just going to show off my strength. I’m going to make him see those other idiots have nothing on me.” There was no doubt in her voice. No hesitation. She carried herself like she’d already won. Not long ago, I was just another unnoticed nurturer in the Crescent Howl nursery. When Lyra suffered a terrible injury during a rogue ambush, I was assigned as her personal nurturer during recovery. Somehow… we clicked. Over time, we became friends. She could’ve asked anyone to escort her today. But she chose me. I glanced out toward the trees as the transport car slowed near the great clearing where the trial would take place. “I still can’t believe you’ve never seen him before,” Lyra said suddenly, pulling me back to the present. I shook my head. “When he visited Crescent Howl last year, I was quarantined with the pups. We had a flu outbreak in the lower nursery, I couldn’t leave the medic wing for days. Your mother provided a suppressant that suppressed the flu from leaving the room." Lyra’s lips twitched into a grin. “Well, lucky for you, you’ll see him today. Mireya, the Alpha King isn’t just powerful, he’s gorgeous. Like, unfairly hot. The kind of hot that makes people forget how to breathe.” My cheeks heated up. “Seriously?” She leaned in closer. “He’s everything an Alpha should be. And when he sees what I can do in that ring… he won’t look anywhere else, and I'll make sure anyone that comes close to him f*****g perish.” My chest tightened, though I wasn’t sure why. The car came to a full stop as we reached the gates. Warriors from every pack stood alert. As Lyra and I stepped out of the transport, behind her. “Beta Thornveil,” one greeted. Lyra’s heels clicked once on the stone as she stepped forward. “It’s Luna, soon enough. I suggest you learn to address me properly.” The omegas dipped even lower, murmuring apologies before scurrying off. "How rude to have omegas greet someone like me with status. It should've been a beta or someone of higher rank greeted me," she gritted out in annoyance. Yet her words barely registered. My wolf stirred, restless, alert. A heat bloomed in my chest. She’d never reacted like this before.... It was as if she knew someone was near. Someone important. Suddenly, a trio of she-wolves passed in front of us. Their scents marked them clearly: Ember Fang, Bloodmist, and Hollow Dusk. “Look who finally crawled out of the shadow of her mother’s curse,” said the Bloodmist wolf, her eyes narrowing at Lyra. The one from Hollow Dusk snorted. “You sure she’s here for the trial? I thought witchblood wasn’t allowed.” Lyra’s lips curled in a cold smile. “Careful. If I am a witch, then shouldn’t you be worried I might hex that smug mouth shut?” The Ember Fang warrior smirked as she stepped closer. “You planning to cast a spell on the Alpha King too? Just like your mother did to your father, after she killed his true mate and took her title?” That made my stomach turn. Because I’d heard whispers like that. Stories no one dared say aloud. The Crescent Howl Pack had been called many things over the years. The Witch Pack was one of them. But I still didn't believe them because no one liked Thornveils, so they'd come up with stories over the years. Before Lyra could snap back at the warriors from Hollow Dusk, the air shifted. A group of male wolves stepped towards us, tall and bulky, their presence alone silencing the surrounding space. Even without a word, they radiated power. One of them stopped in front of us. “Beta Thornveil of Crescent Howl?” Lyra tilted her chin proudly. “That'll be me.” “The Alpha King is waiting. Follow us.” They turned without waiting for a response, expecting to be obeyed. Lyra didn’t hesitate to fall in step, and I followed closely behind her. My wolfs excitement rushed, pushing against my skin like heat. I couldn’t explain it. My hands felt tingly, my heart fluttering in ways it never had before. Was he here? Was my mate… close? My eyes darted around the room, subtly scanning the guards, the corners, the balconies, anyone. I was finally going to meet him..... my mate. He had to be here. Somewhere. Suddenly, we were in a large magnificent room. Almost instantly, a massive door at the far end swung open with a heavy, echoing creak. Silence fell over the hall as three more guards stepped through, forming a protective V-shape around the man that followed. And gods… what followed didn’t look like a man. Without a doubt, the Alpha King stepped forward, tall, broad-shouldered. His skin was sun-bronzed, stretched perfectly over firm muscle. His dark hair was slightly tousled like he'd run a hand through it moments ago, and his sharp jawline looked carved from stone. But it was his eyes that made my breath stop, wolf eyes, golden beneath thick lashes, scanning the room. No wonder they all wanted to be his Luna. I peeked from behind the she-wolves in front of me, heart hammering. He was absolutely the most powerful-looking wolf I had ever seen. Dangerous, devastatingly beautiful, and fully in control. My wolf clawed at my stomach.... he wasn’t even her mate yet my wolf was clawing to meet him. Around me, the females, especially the ranked ones, straightened their backs, adjusted their hair, and subtly pushed their chests forward. Their eyes glittered with hunger. Even I… blushed. It felt wrong to look at him like that. He wasn’t mine. He was the Alpha King. Unattainable. The very peak of power and breeding. But still.... my heart fluttered. Then, his head snapped in our direction. Straight toward me. I gasped, then immediately looked down, heat rushing up my neck as I lowered my gaze to the floor. Goddess, had I been caught staring? No. I shook the thought away. He couldn’t have been looking at me. Lyra stood right in front of me, perfectly poised. So did the others. It had to be one of them. Still… I could feel his eyes. Heavy and hot. Then the Alpha King spoke. “You.” A warrior from Hollow Dusk, the one with the sharpest tongue, lifted her chin confidently. "Me?" Only to have him flick his fingers in irritation. “Out of my line of sight.” Her mouth parted in disbelief before she took two steps to the side, scowling now. Then his gaze landed on Lyra. “You.” Lyra’s entire posture changed, back straight, lips softly parted, a glow of satisfaction in her eyes. She moved forward like she already knew what came next. Only for the Alpha King to give her one bored look and say flatly, “Dismissed.” The entire room gasped. Even I gasped. Lyra froze mid-step. “What?” “You heard me.” His voice held finality, no interest, no room for question. My heart slammed against my ribs as I stared at her wide eyes. She was the strongest candidate from our pack. The most feared beta daughter. That wasn't supposed to happen. She stepped back slowly, fury barely masked in her clenched jaw. Suddenly, I realized something. Everyone else had moved and I was the only one left standing in plain view. My heart slammed into my chest. Panic flared. I took a step to shift behind the others. But the Alpha’s eyes darkened. “Dont move.” His voice thundered across the hall. Every sound died. Dozens of eyes turned toward me. My feet froze mid-step. I didn’t dare breathe as his gaze burned into me, direct, golden, and inescapable. I lowered my head immediately, my blush flaming hot across my cheeks. No, no, no… he couldn’t be looking at me. My pulse pounded. My knees wobbled. Then he said it again. “You.” My head lifted slightly, and I hesitantly raised a trembling hand to point at myself. “M-me?” “Yes you, in my bed," he spoke making my eyes widened as he turned away leaving but then paused for a second before saying. "Now." "Mate!" My wolf screamed making me gasp in shock. Wait... what?! My lips parted. My wolf let out a deep, shuddering sound inside me... more purr than growl. Suddenly I realized… Everyone else in this room had come to win the Alpha King. But he was claiming me.